Drill Floor Panel Storage

ABSTRACT

A drilling rig includes a rig floor and a subfloor. The rig floor and subfloor are generally horizontal, with the subfloor positioned a selected distance below the rig floor. The subfloor extends at least partially below the rig floor. At least one access point is positioned to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor. In some embodiments, the access point includes a hatch. The hatch is openable to allow access to the subfloor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application which claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 61/761,385, filed Feb. 6, 2013.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is related to a drilling rig storage system.

BACKGROUND

The rig floor for drilling rigs used for drilling for oil and gas is traditionally a very active location, with many activities occurring simultaneously. In addition, free space is at a premium on a rig floor, with many pieces of equipment, hoses, wiring, and other material necessary for drilling. Storage for such material not in use may be difficult on a traditional drilling rig.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides for a drilling rig. The drilling rig may include a rig floor, the rig floor being generally horizontal; a subfloor, the subfloor being generally horizontal and below the rig floor, the subfloor extending at least partially below the rig floor and spaced a selected distance from the rig floor; and at least one access point positioned to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a rig floor consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is cutaway side view of a rig storage system consistent with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of various embodiments. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

FIGS. 1, 2 depict a particular embodiment of the present disclosure in which subfloor 3 has been installed below rig floor 1. In some embodiments, subfloor 3 is situated with respect to the drill floor such that drilling rig personnel are able to crawl, crouch, or walk on subfloor 3. In some embodiments, the distance between subfloor 3 and rig floor 1 may be for instance, between 3 and 6 feet. In some embodiments, the distance between subfloor 3 and rig floor 1 may be between about 4 and about 5 feet. In other embodiments, the distance between subfloor 3 and rig floor 1 may be at least 5 feet. Subfloor 3 may extend the length of the driller's side of rig floor 1. In some embodiments, subfloor 3 may extend a partial length of the driller's side of rig floor 1.

The space between rig floor 1 and subfloor 3 may provide, for example and without limitation, storage space readily accessible to workers on rig floor 1; access to any equipment, fluid lines, electrical lines, etc. located between rig floor 1 and subfloor 3; or space for conduits or tunnels for rig equipment, fluid lines, electrical lines, etc.

In some embodiments, subfloor 3 may be accessible from rig floor 1 through one or more access points. As depicted in FIG. 1, one or more access hatches 5 may be positioned to allow workers to access the space between rig floor 1 and subfloor 3. In some embodiments, one or more tunnels 7 may be positioned within the space between rig floor 1 and subfloor 3 to provide, for example, protected horizontal access or equipment routing. In some embodiments, when hatches 5 are in the closed position, the tops of hatches 5 may generally form a continuous portion of rig floor 1, allowing, for example, workers to walk across hatches 5.

In some embodiments, multiple subfloor levels may be included. For example, as depicted in FIG. 2, sub boxes 9, 11 having subfloors 10, 12 respectively may be accessible via drill floor hatch 13. In some embodiments, subfloors 10, 12 may be accessible via one or more access ladders 15 positioned to allow a worker to safely descend from rig floor 1.

As understood in the art, subfloor 3 may be formed from the same material structures as rig floor 1. In some embodiments, subfloor 3 may be formed from floor grate panels.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that a person of ordinary skill in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Such features may be replaced by any one of numerous equivalent alternatives, only some of which are disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. One of ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A drilling rig comprising: a rig floor, the rig floor being generally horizontal; a subfloor, the subfloor being generally horizontal and below the rig floor, the subfloor extending at least partially below the rig floor and spaced a selected distance from the rig floor; and at least one access point positioned to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor.
 2. The drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the access point comprises a hatch, the hatch being openable to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor.
 3. The drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor comprises a tunnel extending horizontally, the tunnel positioned between the rig floor and the sub floor.
 4. The drilling rig of claim 1, further comprising an access ladder positioned to allow a worker to descend from the rig floor to the subfloor.
 5. The drilling rig of claim 1, further comprising a second subfloor, the second subfloor being generally horizontal and positioned a selected distance below the first subfloor, and the first subfloor includes at least one access point positioned to allow access to the second subfloor from the first subfloor.
 6. The drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the selected distance is between 3 and 6 feet.
 7. The drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the selected distance is between 4 and 5 feet.
 8. The drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the selected distance is greater than 5 feet.
 9. The drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor further comprises at least one of a cable, tubing, or other piece of drilling rig equipment.
 10. The drilling rig of claim 1, wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor is positioned to allow for storage of rig equipment.
 11. A drilling rig comprising: a rig floor, the rig floor being generally horizontal; a subfloor, the subfloor being generally horizontal and below the rig floor, the subfloor extending at least partially below the rig floor and spaced a selected distance from the rig floor; at least one access hatch, the access hatch being openable to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor; and an access ladder positioned between the subfloor and the rig floor positioned to allow a worker to descend from the rig floor to the subfloor through the opened access hatch.
 12. The drilling rig of claim 11, further comprising a second subfloor, the second subfloor being generally horizontal and positioned a selected distance below the first subfloor, and the first subfloor includes at least one access point positioned to allow access to the second subfloor from the first subfloor.
 13. A box on box drilling rig, the box on box drilling rig comprising: a plurality of sub boxes, the sub boxes being stacked to form the support structure of the box on box drilling rig; a drilling rig platform, the drilling rig platform positioned atop the sub boxes, the drilling rig platform including: a rig floor, the rig floor being generally horizontal; a subfloor, the subfloor being generally horizontal and below the rig floor, the subfloor extending at least partially below the rig floor and spaced a selected distance from the rig floor; and at least one access point positioned to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor.
 14. The drilling rig of claim 13, wherein the access point comprises a hatch, the hatch being openable to allow access to the subfloor from the rig floor.
 15. The drilling rig of claim 13, wherein the space between the rig floor and the subfloor comprises a tunnel extending horizontally, the tunnel positioned between the rig floor and the sub floor.
 16. The drilling rig of claim 13, further comprising an access ladder positioned to allow a worker to descend from the rig floor to the subfloor.
 17. The drilling rig of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sub boxes further comprises a second subfloor, the second subfloor being generally horizontal and positioned a selected distance below the first subfloor, the first subfloor including at least one access point positioned to allow access to the second subfloor from the first subfloor.
 18. The drilling rig of claim 17, further comprising an access ladder positioned to allow a worker to descend from the first subfloor to the second subfloor. 